Always get the Authenticate First "green light" before you buy or sell!

We try to anticipate questions you might have about our service and provide the answers here. If you have a question not answered, please feel free to use the Contact Us link and we will do our best to provide an answer.

1.

Can I take this into a boutique and get an authentication?

You can try, but they will not put anything in writing. They are actually told not to authenticate, because they are often wrong and are not trained to do so. This is a very big misconception. Unless they take a personal interest in authentication, they really have no clue and are just guessing/going off limited knowledge. It's really not worth the gamble.

2.

How can I tell if a bag is authentic?

There are many factors that determine authenticity and this is a difficult question to answer. What we can tell you, is that online research is not enough and self authenticating is not a good idea. Authenticators take years to learn the trade and have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of authentic and non authentic items. They know what things have changed on a particular item or design, and when. More often than not, the information found online is old, outdated or plain incorrect.

3.

If I take my bag to the store for authentication and it’s fake, will it be confiscated?

We have never heard of this, but it is possible. We do know that bigger name websites will destroy fakes if you send them one to sell for you.

4.

If I send you pictures of my bag, could you tell me if it’s real?

We have experts that cover many brands. We have not had an instance yet where a determination was unable to be made. If this were to happen, we would notify you immediately.

5.

How can you tell a well-made fake purse/wallet from an authentic one from just a visual digital inspection?

Sometimes telling an authentic from a non authentic is like solving a puzzle. We must go over multiple aspects of the item, looking for the minute differences, piecing the evidence together to make a determination. The so called "super fakes" aren't so super when you know what to look for, and more importantly, what is wrong.

6.

Do Louis Vuitton bags ever go on sale?

No, absolutely not. There is also no such thing as a Louis Vuitton outlet. This is a good reason to invest in LV because their value continues to increase. If you see a website with prices at less than retail from louisvuitton.com, it will most likely be a counterfeit site unless it is a reputable pre-loved site.

7.

Are your Written Statements accepted by PayPal?

Yes. Our authentication letters are accepted by PayPal, eBay, insurance and credit card companies. We also provide Certificates of Authenticity and Significantly Not as Described (SNAD) which are also useful in claims cases. This service is available for both buyers and sellers.